Crab-lever spring system.



A. HALLNER.

Y GRAB-LEVER SPRING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. I8. I9I5. l

Patented Dec. 19,1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

A. HALLNER.

GRAB-LEVER SPRING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED ocT.18. 1915.

1 ,208,956, Patented Dec. 19, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A. HLLNER.` GRAB-LEVER SPRING SYSTEM. APPLlcAmN min ocT. is, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.'

:rens cu, mwmuma.- :145mm: ron. p. c.

` wheels.

, ANDREW HALLNER, or AnBoGacaLIroRn-Iii.

To all whom t may concern: Y

Be it known that I, ANDREW I-IALLNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Arboga,'in the county of Yuba and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Crab-Lever Spring Systems, of which the following is a specification. y

' rIhis inventionrelates crabl lever spring mechanism l`for transmitting vweight, power or force tocoilsprings for producing oscillating and elastic effects.

The object of the invention is to sol con struct mechanism of this character that all jars,vjerksor irregular impulses will be neu# tralized, and a continuously even and smooth taking up slacking tendencies in belts andV producing a soft uniformtension and tautness thereof as well as being adapted as a substitute for pneumatic tires Aon vehicle Another object is to provide a mechanism of this character which is capable of having simultaneous sagging, oscillating and twisting movements' inany' direction.

' wVith these .and other ob]ects in View, the

invention consists `,of certainnovel features of construction, -combinationand arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more particularly-described andV claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 represents a vertical peripheral section of a wheel constructed 'ein accordance with this invention, with one of the hub plates re- Vmoved4 and with the parts'in the Vposition assumed when in neutral orrest position;

4 Fig. 2 Ais a transversev vertical sectiontaken erted on the interior mechanism'` ofthe' wheel; Fig. 4 is a similar viewv showing the parts in the position assumed when a twistV from right to left vis exertedA onthe mecha-` nism; Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. with the parts in the position lassumed wheny the hub has been forced from its central posi.-vvv

tion, Vand when the nshell orcasing makes an upward stroke; Fig. 6 is a viewsimilar to Fig. l'fshowing what may be termed the to improvements in lgserhub plate; Fig. Zia a perspective view Acime-LEVER sPiaiNG SYSTEM; n

Specicaton of Letters Patent. Patented 1916. ,Appiication md amber 18,1915...Y serial No.l 56,1%;40. i

of the male'member 'ofi the duplex crabV le-V pleX crabV lever units showingfthe members i thereof bent upward; Fig; `11Y isfaside elevation of one ofthe duplexcrab lever (units,r wtlithe members thereof in neutral or rest position; Fig. 12 is Va similaryiew withthe members."bentfdownward;.Fig. 13 is aside f elevation Voflone f of lthe simplex,` crab lever unitswith thejparts in neutralfposition; Fig. lll isa similar view withy the 'spring omitted with the grippers. extended at right angles `to the neutral position;" Fig. V15iis a similar view showing I a' f double Y coil spring used inconnection with; this yform offythe invention -;1Figs. 16 and 17 are side and front elevations vrespective'lylzof the" guide plates.

' In -thefembodiment illustrated in Figs. l

to 12 a vehicle wheel W is shown `equipped with this improved mechanism, what Vmay f ying showni in this application of the invent,

be termedthe'duplex crab lever system be.

tion. IThis wheel asl shown isv composed f of .dust proof disks 1 and 2 with a ',rim'f arranged'between Vthem and Vspaced inwardly from theperipheries thereof ,asuiiicient' distancefto'form a seat for la solidtire not' shown which may'be ofany desired -material. These` disksiand A rim are joined' together yin fluid tight vrelation to formy a lubricant containing chamber.

` Thedisk 2 ispro'vided with acentral pro-V v jection 4 having a protectedopening 5, fo'rj lubrication.; The disk 1 has a centralopen-v `1 ing '6` to permit the .free movementof the axle and i'sprovided with a flexible dust and mud 'guardgl Two hub plates,"` and .9` are within the casing formed by the disks-1 l*and* Y 2 andl the rim 3 and lare here, shown in the .form ofGreekcrosses of the-,same size and eachoffvvhich has openingslrOl inthe arms, 1l thereof, saidopenings'being hereshown rectangular inY formand which are designed forax-purpose to be described. Each of these. plates hasja central `axlereceiving opening 152 and on theiiinnerface of'. plate movement between" them-Tof Athelevers here` inafter to be described.` f'Ifhis boss is here shownisquare 'with senil-circular recesses 14,

`is secured ,al boss l1.3 is of vsufficient thickness to properly spacethe igilaltes` and Y, 9 asufficientf' distance J teli-permit; theaffreje Lic n formed the four corners thereof which y are designedto form seats fonbolts 15 which connect the two plates 8V and 9 extending through registering aperturesil in isaid plates. A. plurality of lever guiding posts 17 extend'laterally inward froin ytlieiface of plate 8, being arranged between the openings 10 in the arnis -11 of theplate and the straight side walls cf the boss 13 as is shown clearly 2, These postsu17 also eX- tend thronghvapertures'13 formed in plate 9.

lilounted between the plates 8 and 9 are a plurality of duplex crab leverspring units 20, four of'which "are here shown'. All of the units being exactly alike one only will be described. Each unit 20 comprises two duplex ina-le and female crab. levers 21 and 22, and fa kcoiled spring 23.l .Twov hinge knuckles 24 and 25 'connectthe outer ends of the l'evers'fto the vcasing Orjriin, pintles being hereshown connecting said lever ends and' knuckles.l A pairmof Vguide plates'27 and 2S is shown arranged betweenthezjaws ofthe levers in each opening 10 of the plates 8 ay d 9 and between said guide plates vis ari c .nged la'coiied spring 23. The inale lever 21 is constructed as shown in 7 including an arcuate arin 29 having a hollow head 30 formed at one end. This arin 29 has ylongitudinelly .extending reinforcing flanges 29 on each'edge.v The head 30l ofthe lever as shown is composed of two laterally spaced' plates 31 and havingelongitudinally extending registering slots 33 therein for purpose to be described. Flanges 34 and 35 extend laterally inward froni the upper. edges of these plates and the free edges thereof ineet and are united midway the width of the head as is shown clearly in 2. YSimilar flanges 34y and k35 eX- tend inwardly frorn the lower edges of the plates between which and the upper flanges 34 and 35 an anti-'friction vrocking rolleril to be described, is disposed. o y

Gripping fingers 36 and 37 rise froin the free ends of the plates 31 and 32 and a cooperating gripping Vshoulder 38 is disposed atthe inner end of the head 30 at the junction` thereof with the arm 29, said shoulder and ylingers forming longitudinally spaced rigidjaws.

The' f ei'nale Vlever 22 is composed of'two `Y arcuate arins 39v and 40 connected at one end by a web 41`which is arranged between'thern and extends about Yhalf way the length thereof with its inner end 'inclined outwardly to afford vample space for the rocking of 'the lever 21fbetween vthe plates '39 and 4Q. et theend of eachV ar1n'39 and 40 is a head 42 shaped similarly: to the head 30 of the lever 21.V These heads 42 `have in- Y wardlyextendingflateral flanges 43 vat' their upperedgesl and siniilar flanges 43 at their lower edges which are designed to register transversely with the flanges 34and 35 and i Y34 andk35 of the head 30 whenthe parts are asseinbled. (See Fig. 2). Y' Upstanding fingers 44 and 45 at the free ends of .the heads 42 are shaped to correspond with the fingersv36 and 37 of lever 21,"aand ,said heads have shoulders 46 and 47 at their inner ends which correspond to the shoulder'38 of lever 21. The heads 42 `are arranged on the guide' post 17 between the vinner faces of theheads 42 of lever 22 and the outer faces of the head 30`of'lever 211andare`disposed between the flanges 43 and 43 of'saidheads lf2-to provide for the free movement of jthe levers relatively to each other without'frictional binding. rlhe friction roller v51 is also Aarranged `on the post 17 between the plates=31 and of the head 30 of lever 21, and is of a suflicient thickness to span the space between said platesEl and is designedgto coperate with the upper and lower flanges 34, 34 andV 35 and 35 carried respectively by theupper and lower edges of the plates V31 and32 fas shown clearly in Fig. 2;

rlhe hinge knuckles 24 and 25 which connect the levers with the rirn are spaced at their opposite ends from the opposite sides of the rini a suilicient distance to permit the free and uninterupted nioveinent of the hub plates 8 and 9 between said knuckle ends and rini edges, as the stability and steadiness of an elastic wheel depends upon the snug and perfect'fit of the hinge lioint. The levers which extend in opposite directions when the parts are assembled, perform the function also of the spokes of the wheel, and the entireweight or load of the wheel is supported on vthe springs'23` From Vthe' above description it will be obvious that when the parts of each crab lever unit-s are assembled that the outer ends of lthe arnis thereof will be hingedly conne'cted by the knuckles 24 and v25 with the rini ofthe wheel at opposite points ant in alinenient with each other, and that one of the posts 17 will extend through the registering `slots 33 and 48 and connect the heads 3() and 42: of the levers., while the guide plates 27'and 28 project through the registering openings 10 in the hub plates 8 and9 with the coiled springs 23 arranged between 'said plates andadapted to be coinpressed or to expand according to the weight enforce 'brought to bear thereon. These plates *2-7k and 23 have vflanges 27 28 at their opposite ends, 'the ends of which extend beyond the side edges of the openings 'l0 and thus hold theplates against'accidental displac'ernentLy f i 'In Figs. 1 and 11 the two. coperating In Fig. 10 the levers21 and 22 are shown in the position which they assume when upward pressure is exerted on the connected hub plates 8 and 9 between which they are mounted and with which they are connected by the posts 17. This'movement causes the posts 17 to move upwardly and thus force the grippingiingers ofthe levers toward each other and their shoulders away from each other, thereby compressing the spring 23 between them which takes up the shocks occasioned by this movement. e

In Figs. 5 and 12 the levers 21 and 22 are shown in the position which they assume when a downward pressurev is exerted 'on' said hub plates and in which position the shoulders of the two levers operate as grippers for compressing the spring, the ngers thereof moving away from each other.

Vv'hen the hub is forced from its central position by some sudden impulse such as a ridge or riflle in the road, causing the casing to make an upward stroke,theshock effects the entire mechanism and transmits pressure equally to all the springs.4 '(See Fig. A direct upward stroke to the wheel causes the springs at the opposite sides of the wheel to be compressed downwardly by the engagement of the upper end walls of the openings 10 with the guide plates with which they contact, while the springs at the top and bottom ofthe wheel are compressedby the gripping of the fingers of the crab levers located at these points which are con#A trolled by the guide posts 17 which are engaged with these leve-rs. y

In Fig. 8 the parts are shown in the position which they assume when a twistv is given from the left tothe right, called a forward or progressive twist which isan impulse by power or some force similar to that of starting the' machinery. Changing the power vor force from right to left is called the backward'or reverse twist and the eifect upon the mechanism is precisely the same. When this twist is given to the mechanism within the casing, thev springs are com pressed fro-m the right to the left as shown in Fig. 4.

It will thus be seen that av wheel equipped with this improved crab lever mechanism is capable of'sagging, oscillatingor twisting simultaneously whether forward for kbackward, upward or do-wnward, to the right or to the left, at any ypoint going in either di-v rection with the mechanism operating inthe same mannerwhether in the forward or re verse 'application of power to 'a steam engine.: Hence while the` power or force may result from weight or load and be transmitted by the axle and hub to the inner mechanism Vof. theV wheel the reverse is effected when riding over a rough road. In

this latter casev the impulses are derived A, from the ridges-1n the `road and are trans-v mitted bythe rim, knucklesvand hinges to the'arms of `the'levers, the guide `posts 17 becoming the fulcrums or pivo-ts. 'Ihus it follows that theweight, 4.power or vimpulse force may proceed. as just-set forth above from the rim, or the fulcrum. and that the mobility afforded the guide posts in the slots readily, easily and quickly shifts the fulcrum from the center .in any degree in either direction, whereby the points of application -of the weight are varied, thus varying the effect on the springs to suit conditions and the desires of the operator.

v,In Figs. 18 to17 a simplex crab lever in its simplest formfis shown in Vwhich the lever GO'is the only movable part, the*cooperating member. being fastened to the vehicle body or other appliance'in connection with which the device is to be used. In this form vof the invention the member 70 which is designed to be fixed to the apparatus in connection with whichthe device is to be usedcomprises alplate 71 having apair of laterally spaced fingers 71 and 72 extending from eachendon one edge thereof, a substantially.rectangular spring seat 73 being formed between said vpairs of fingers.

The lever 60 has anarcuate arm 61 provided at one rend with a head 62 having longitudinally spaced fingers 63 and 64 extending from one edge thereof and which are designed to enter between the pairs of n-v gers at the ends ofthe member 70 forl closing thespring seat 78. Transversely alined spacedapertures 74 are formed in the head 62 of Fig. 13 and similar aperturesf74 in .Fig l-l'to adjustably receive a fulcrunror pivot to'provide for the adjustment ofthe spring power according to the weight, power or force exerted. While three of these apertures are shown it is to be understood that lany Vdesired number may be employed to spring shown in Fig. 151 renders this crab lever spring system exceedingly pliablel and adaptable to the-mostdelicate movements as well as to any weight or load.

The guidev plates and 7 6 aresimilai-fto4 the plates 27 and 28 of theotherrgures and between which the cushioning spring' 77 is designed to be mounted and compressed thereby. rlhese plates have spring retaining elements 78 which are designed to enter the ends of the coiled springs and holdthem against lateralY movement. These plates are also provided on their ends with laterally extending flanges 79 and 80, 'the ends of which project beyond theside edges of the plates and operate to hold the plates against accidental displacement. rlwoy coiled springs as shown in F ig. l5 are preferably employed one being arranged in the other, the inner spring 81 being longer and of less strength than the outer spring 82. The power and tension of these springs isf. adjusted to the weight or load anticipated tov be supported thereby, the inner spring being adjusted to the weight of the vehicle to provide for as soft and easy running em-pty as when loaded to full capacity. rPhe outer spring 89.." operates in conjunction with the inner spring kSl as vsoon as the weight of the load becomes suili'cient to bring said outer spring' into ope-ration, resulting in a soitl swaying movementl similar to the movement oi a boat on .the gentle ripples of the sea.

I claim: y

l. A crab lever spring system including a plurality of units each having aL uflcrum and an arm with jaws on each side of said fulcrum, a coil springv arranged between said jaws, said jaws being normally on a neutral or rest line, and means connected to pivot said jaws on their ulcrum, whereby said spring is compressed and shocks absorbed thereby. Y

y2. A crab lever spring system including a plurality of units each having a fulcruni and an arm with jaws on each side of said fulcrum, a coil spring arranged between said jaws, said jaws being normally on a neutral or rest line, and means connected to pivot said jaws in oppositeA directions on their tulcrum and thereby compress said spring,l the resisting power Vof said spring being the same whichever way the jaws are pivoted.

,3. A crab lever spring system including a plurality of duplex units, each comprising a male and a female crab lever having tele` scoping pivotally connected jaws, a coiled spring arranged between the jawsy of the two levers7 and means connected to pivot the` jaws.

A cra-b lever spring system including a casing, a plurality o5 lever units mounted therein and each comprising a pair of levers pivoted at one end to: said: casing with their other-fonds extendingtoward .each otherr meegetehaving lapping pivotally connected heads,

eacho' said heads having longitudinallyr spaced gripping Y elements extending later.- ally in thel samev directiornthe-v elements of one head alining transversely with those of the other when they parts are normali position, and shoclr absorbing elements arranged between theA gripping elements of said hea ds. 5r rlEhecombination of an axle, cylindrical casingvv loosely mounted. thereon, spaced hub pla-.tesv mounted en said axle in said casi-ng and having registering openings, meansfor holding Saidplates in spaced relation, crabr lever units mounted between sa-idY pla-tes andk pivotal'ly' connected with said casing,` said.- units havingI gripping aws with coiled. springs mounted between them. to ab- SorbI shocks imparted to the axle or casing. and connectors between said lever jaws andl plates.

6i They combination of an axle, cylindrical casing loosely mounted thereon, spaced hub plates mounted on said axle in said' casing and having registering openings, means for holding said plates in spacedv relation, crab-lever units mounted. between said platesnnd pi'votail'l'y' connected with Said casing, said units having gripping jaws, coiled; springs mounted between.- thel jawsto absorb shocks imparted tothe axle or casing, and

plates arranged. between said aws and springs` and extending intoft'heopenings of saldi hub plates whereby the leve-rs: and hub plates are connected.

7. The combi-nationI of an axle, acyl-indrica'lcasing loosely mounted thereon, spaced hubv plates mounted on sai-d axle in said casing and having registeringopenings, means for holding said plates in spaced relation, crab lever units mounted. between said plates having oppesitely extending arms pivota-,llsy Connectedl at their outer end-s to said cas-ing at points in alinemen-t with each other, said arms havingpivotally connected heads at their inner ends, said heads each having spaced gripping elements, those et one head alinifng laterally with those of' the other when in normal position, and a coiled spring mounted between the gripping elements ed the twoy heads..

8.. rlh-e combination of anaxle, a cyli-ndrioal casi-ng loosely mounted thereon, spa-ced huby plates mounted on said axle in said casing and hai/ing registering openings, means for holding said Vplatesfin spaced relation, crab lever units mounted between. said plates and having oppositely extending arms pivotally connected at their outer ends to said casing at points in alinement with each other and pro-vided with heads on their inner ends having longitudinally extending registering slots therein, posts connecting1 said huh plates. and each extending throng-h the slots in the heads of a lever unitl form-ing a pivotv therefor-said heads'hayingcoper- Y ating gripping elementsiand a coiledspring gripping elements of.

arranged between the the two heads.

9. A lever unit for 1a duplexlcrab lever spring system comprising a pair'of longi tudinally alined' levers having telescoping longitudinally slotted heads with laterally extending longitudinally spaced' gripping levers being connected for longitudinal and lateral movement.

l1. The combination of an axle, a cyl1n` drical casing loosely mounted thereon, hub

plates mounted on saidf axle inside said cas'- ing, a spacing sleeve carried by one of said plates and engaging the other, a plurality of posts spaced radially from said axle and Copies of this patent may be obtainedufor five cents eachfby addressing the `@unimis'sone'r of Ifatents,`

connecting said plates, a plurality ofvcrab i lever units mounted in said casing between said plates 'and engaged with said posts, said units comprising levers pivotally connected f v atione end, and theirV opposite ends pivoted to the inner peripheral wall of said casing, said levershaving jaws on their pivotally between said jaws. y Y I *Y l2.` The combinationof'v an axle, a casing looselymounted thereon, a plurality of duplex crab lever units pivoted at opposite ends tothe peripheralwall of said casing, each unit being-composed of two members pivoted to move in opposite directions and to have a' twisting movement, and cushionconnected ends of saidmembers.

ANDREW HALLNn-Rf R5 N. HALL'N'ER," EDWIN LARsoN.

, Witnesses;V z

' Washington,6.

ing elements disposed between thepivotally u connected ends, andcoiled springs'arranged ,l 

